How Much do you Tip for Food Delivery?

Tipping at Restaurants: The Standards for Tipping Waiters or Waitresses

The number that keeps getting thrown out as a standard tipping percentage at restaurants is 15%. I usually stick to that, but go up to 20% if the waiter/waitress is likable and does a good job. I go down to 10% if I get below standard service. Most restaurants that add in the gratuity for large parties factor in 18% as a standard.

As a side note, if you’ve ever been out to eat with a former waitstaff, you’ll often see them go higher than 20%, because they empathize with how difficult the job is for the money.

But…. do the same rules apply to food delivery tipping?

Tipping for Food Delivery: Not as Clear Cut

While most people have heard the general guidelines for tipping waitstaff in restaurants, it’s not as clear cut for food delivery, most commonly – the pizza delivery

guy. CNN suggests this for how much to tip on food delivery :

10% of the bill (excl. tax), at least $1 for bills up to $10. Should tip 15%-20% for a difficult delivery.

Here is a general guideline that I have seen offered elsewhere:

15% for normal service, with a $2 minimum; 20% for excellent service; 10% or less for poor service; at least 10% for orders of $50 or more.

My take on How Much to Tip the Delivery Guy/Gal:

There are so many factors that go into it. If you have a decent size order and the place is within a mile or two of your house, I can see 10% being enough – but I’d never go under that. And if it is more than a few miles and a small order, under $10 or so, I’d probably go up to 20% (but probably not more than that).